Lew Dickey: Cumulus Launches Country 'American Idol' And New Label

Lew Dickey

In an interview with the NEW YORK POST, CUMULUS MEDIA head honcho LEW DICKEY discussed how the company's forays into non-radio ventures will help it overcome sluggish over-the-air revenue. Chief among them are launching NASH NEXT, an “AMERICAN IDOL”-style online and on-air music competition, which enables the company to sign the winners to its newest record label, also called NASH NEXT.

Complementing its 38 Country-format NASH stations and 28 Classic Country-styled NASH ICON stations, CUMULUS owns COUNTRY WEEKLY magazine, and has TV partnerships with MUSIC CHOICE and concert streamer QELLO. DICKEY also noted that CUMULUS is close to consummating a merchandise deal for a new Americana-themed lifestyle brand.

“Everybody is getting into everybody’s else’s business,” he told the POST, citing newspapers and TV stations that are morphing into multimedia. “You have to create multiple touch points.”

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